Somewhere in between moving from Seminole, living in an r/v and in the home of a church member in Paradise, fitting what we could in the rent house three months later, putting the rest of our belongings into storage and then finally moving to Runaway Bay where we bought a home two years later, we lost our Christmas tree. We think we may have left it in the attic back in Seminole. The new home owners are going to check on it for us.
We purchased a small inexpensive tree a couple of years ago to put in the rent house. Those last two years we did not keep our family tradition. Each year Brenda and I have been married and the kids have been alive we have purchased or made a special ornament for the tree for each member of the family. When we start decorating the tree I sit down and tell the stories behind the meaning of each ornament. It is always a good time.
Since we did not have our real tree we did not even bother with our special ornaments while living in the rent house. We found some cheap ones at a dollar store to put on the new tree and called it done for the past two years. The boys informed me that we had missed out on our tradition the past couple of years and being this is our first year in our new home they were determined not miss out this year.
Saturday night we kept the tradition. Only due to the small stature of the tree we were not able to get every ornament on the branches. We put as many as we could and shared many great memories and laughs along the way. Seeing the boys as babies and now having one about to graduate was both fulfilling and sobering at the same time.
I was shocked when I got up this morning and discovered the tree had fallen over sending ornaments scattering everywhere. My coaching whistle ornament shattered for this year along with a few others. The boys got it all picked up and stood the tree up once again before leaving for church. When we got home after church we once again discovered the tree had succumbed to all the weight and had toppled over sending ornaments scattering.
I wonder how many lives are doing the same thing as we get into the holiday season. How many are bowing under the financial pressure to make ends meet for the month and find money to get everyone what they want for Christmas. Television commercials make it look so easy to buy a $300 one of these and $600 one of those like it is no big deal. Real life for some people make these purchases out of reach increasing the pressure. The temptation to just "charge it" on the credit card is more and more alluring. Deep down you recall you have not even paid off all the purchases from last year.
How many will bow under the pressure of just being alone this year. They miss loved ones who have departed into eternity. I can think of many that died this year leaving holes in my heart. For some left behind, their loss means nobody living will take the time to drop by for a visit, to make a phone call, send a holiday greeting card, or send an email. The children and grandchildren are so busy. The old Sunday School class has just about all died off. The pastor is so busy tending to other more pressing needs in others lives. This saddens my heart as people endure loneliness and depression in what should be a festive time of the year. The lonely and grieving bow under the pressure of it all.
Silently each of these lives bows beneath the pressure. O that we could roll our burdens on the Lord this time of year. [Ps 55:22] How I pray that we will be so anchored in God that we do not bow under the pressure, the sorrows, and the trials. If just one person could read this and lean more on God, get more anchored in the soil of His word driving down deep roots there and do more than survive this holiday season but thrive through it with faith and joy, my little bowed Christmas tree would be worth it a thousand times over.
Cast your burdens on the Lord. Do not live under the weight of your heavy loads another moment. Let Him lift the oppressive weight from your weary shoulders and then bow voluntarily in His presence to worship this holiday season. When you rise do so in the freedom of a life without stress, anxiety and in perfect peace. [Phil 4:6-7]
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